Sole-shaping machine



Aug. 19, 1952 L. D. ALDERMAN 2,607,057

SOLE-SHAPING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1951 Y s Sheets-Sheet 1 Inven tar lean D AIder man Aug. 19, 1952 L.D. ALDERMAN 2,607,057

\ SOLE-SHAPING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [nvein to!" I g- 19, 1952 D. ALDERMAN SOLE-SHAPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 14, 1951 Inventor Zeon D Alderman Patented Aug. 19, 1952 UNITED A STATES PATENT;- lorries.

SOLE-SHAPING MACHINE Leon. 1).. Alderman, Magnolia, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Fleming ton, N. .L, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 14, 1951, Serial No. 231,566

8. Claims. (orig-21) This invention relates to machines for shaping unattached soles and more especially to improvements in sole shaping-machines of the type in which a work-piece is interposed between relatively movable molding members to receive their forming pressure. Although the invention is hereinafter illustrated as applied to "sole molding, it will be recognizedthat the invention may well be applicable also to machines for molding other parts of shoes and other objects.

' The importance-of accurately registering a sole, especially its ball line, with respect to coperative pressure-applying molds has hitherto been recognized and dealt with, for example, as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,065,465, granted December 22, 1936, upon application of J. M. Whelton, No. 2,306,430, granted December 29, 1942, upon application of 'A. Eppler, Jr., and No. 2,323,933, granted July 13, 1943, upon application of E. N. Preble. A-common practice as disclosed there and elsewhere is to employ edge engaging devices tomovea sole widthwise and lengthwise as maybe required predeterminedly to position it relatively to the mold contours. For actuating suchpositioning devices in relation to different shapes and sizes of soles, for clearing these devices from the path of the movable mold prior to the shaping Operation, and for thereafter'arranging the solelocating mechanism in readiness to receive the blank next to be formed, various means have been proposed which have limited the productivity of the operator because they have generally been of rather complex organization and/or required the exercise of considerable dexterity by him.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide in a sole-shaping machine of the type employing pressure-applying molds improved and automatic gaging mechanism of simple construction by which a sole may be easily and quickly located and held inproper position for molding.

To the accomplishment of this objective, and in accordance with one feature of the invention, there is provided in a sole-shaping machine the novel combination with a pair of molds, one of which is movable toward the other for applying shaping pressure, a flexible blanket extending between said molds to support a sole for the shaping operation, sole-locating members, means operative at the beginning of movement of said one of said molds toward the other for operating said sole-locating members to position said sole in predetermined relation to said. molds, andmeans operative: during continued movement of said one of said. molds toward the other for re tracting said locating members.-

A further feature of the: invention resides in the provision insuch a sole-shaping machine of means automatically effective to clamp the.- sole against 'theiblanket prior to the 1retractiv'e'move ment'of the sole-locating members whereby late eral displacement of. theksolerrelatively to the mold is avoided. 'The above and otherfeatures' of the invention, together with .novel' combinations;v of parts. will now he more fully described in connection. with' the accompanying drawingswof an illustra-s tive machine'in which the invention is embodied.

In the drawings, I i

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the lower mold'show-j ing associated sole-locating devices'both in and out ofsole edge engaging positions;

j Fig. 2 is a viewinside elevation of the ele:

ments seen in Fig. 1; i i i V Fig. 3 is .a section taken along the line l lI-g-lill of Fig- 1;. an Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, section emitting port-.-

tions of the. machine but showing th upp rand lower molds and associated parts in operative positions with respect to asole. r

In certain respects the machine organization embody-ing the present invention and selected for purposes of illustration may be similar to the disclosures. made iii-the above mentipned patents and, accordingly, only such portions-10f the machine as' it is "necessary particularly to refer to for an understanding of the invention are herein shown and will he described :in detail.

The illustrative machine comprises a stationary upper mold l0 (Fig.4? and a cooperative lower complemental mold l2 that is" movable height-i wise towardfand fronifsole=moldiiig position by appropriate powermeans. only a portion 'H' (Fig. 4) of which, is shown, and notfforining' apart of this nt on he m dv 11 f i bi e I Q other suitable materiah supports. a: resilient pad [4 .andis carried. on. a-flat. vertically movable crossheadi L6. to. which upr ght mold-retai .line, side wallslB, 48..and.endwalls 2.0, 20 (Fig. .4).

are secured.

For supporting: a sole. sto be shapedby the pressure applying. molds ill; and I2, a flexible. blanket 2-2 extends between-them and has ,its; ends respectively anchoredby screws '24 ;-(Figs,. .1 and 4 threadedvinto -clamping-.members 25,:each of which is pivotally supported by a crosspin' 28.:

The P sp ctively extend horizontally and widthwise between the ends of corresponding upper arms of composite bell cranks 30 and 32 (Figs. 2 and 4) arranged at opposite ends of the walls I8, I8. The arms of the bell cranks 30, 32 are adjustably secured to, and supported by, pivot studs 34, 36 respectively, the latter being journaled in the walls I8. The lower arms of the bell cranks 30, 32 are connected by a tension spring 38 suitable to hold the blanket 22 in taut condition when initially receiving a sole to be shaped but yieldable to permit equal and opposite angular turning movement of the bell cranks 30, 32 upon cooperative action of the molds I and I2.

The gaging means provided for automatically locating a sole S on the blanket 22 comprise sole edge engaging members including a toe abutment 40, a, heel abutment 42, a pair of side gage jaws 44, and a pair of heel portion gage jaws 46, all mounted for efiective cooperation with camactuating mechanism as will hereinafter be described. The respective abutments 40, 42 are affixed to horizontally projecting pairs of arms 48, 50. The latter are spaced widthwise near the opposite extremities of the blanket 22 and respectively supported by studs 52, 54secured respectively to the upper ends of uprightarms of bell cranks 56, 58. Thesebell cranks 56, 58 are carried up and down with the mold I2, being pivotally supported on bearings 60,. 62 respectively, aflixed to the lower portion of bracket I0. In order. to effect appropriate centering of the sole S lengthwise of the blanket 22 and with respect to the mold I2,- horizontal arms 64, 66 of the bell cranks 56, 56, res ectively, are articulated, an end of the arm 66 being forked and bored to carry a pin 68 which is slidable in a slot formed in the adjacent end of the arm 64.

The pairs of side and heel portion gage jaws 44 45 are mounted in a manner somewhat similar to that disclosed in the Enpler and Whelton patents above referred to. Adjustable lengthwise by tongue and groove connection with the side wall. I8 is the bracket I0 for su porting the gage jaws, bolts I2 extending through slots I4 (Fi 2) in the lower portions of the bracket and being threaded into the walls I8. A horizontal plate I6 bolted to a transversely extending up er portion 18 of the bracket I0 affords sup ort for the two pairs of jaws 44 and 45. Each of these pairs consists o t o hori ontally dis osed jaws located one at either side of the mold I2 and provided with inwardly curved portions 80. 8| res ectively (Fig. 1). Each portion 80 terminates in an upri ht inclined conical finger 82 and a de ending roll 84 suitable for enga ing a sole edge. the fingers 82 aidin an operator in easily potting a sole a roximately into position on the blanket 22. At the ends remote from the rolls 04 the side ga e iaws 44 are pivotally mounted upon individual-fulcrum studs 45. The jaws 44 are urged toward sole edge engaging positions by means of a. com ression spring 88 (Fig. 1), the o posite ends of which bear against ears B0 projecting beyond the pivoted ends of the aws 44. The spring 88 is su ported by a rod 92 extending through the convolutions of the s ring and through holes in the ears 90, the rod 92 being held in place by a head 94 at one end and a nut 96 at the other. The portions 8i of the heel portion gage jaws 46 respectively terminate in'inclined lips 98 cooperative to guide the 'heel end, of a sole being deposited and respectively support a depending roll I00 for contacting op osite side edges of such heel portion. The heel portion gage jaws 46 are pivotally mounted on fulcrum studs I02 and are interconnected by a tension spring I04 that urges the jaws 46 toward sole-engaging positions.

Each pair of gage jaws 44, 46 are connected in articulated relation by means which communicate angular motion from one jaw to the other and equalize movements of the jaws to enable them to centralize a sole widthwise on the blanket 22. The side gage jaws 44 are interconnected by arms I06 (Fig. l) formed-as bell-crank extensions of the jaws and having ends disposed in overlapping relation, a pin I08 carried by one of the arms being slidably received within a slot H0 in the other arm. The heel portion gage jaws 46 are similarly articulated by bell-crank extensions or arms I I2, one of which carries a pin II4 which extends through a slot H6 in the other arm.

For actuating the sole-locating means automatically on heightwise movement of the mold I2 a pair of stationary, vertical posts I20 is provided to one of which there is adjustably secured by bolts I22 a pair of clamping brackets I24, I23. To the latter is bolted a longitudinally adjustable plate I28 having V-shaped face cams I30, I32 respectively formed in opposite upright portions I34, I36 thereof. A cam roll I38 isrotatably mounted on the bell crank 56 and is arrangedto cooperate with the cam I32 for actuating the abutments 40, 42, the upper bell-crank arms 56, 58 being yieldingly urged toward one another by a tension spring I40. For actuating the heel portion and side gage jaws 46, 44 the cam I30 in the upright portion I34 (Fig. 3) cooperates with a cam roll I42 rotatably mounted on a lever I44 pivotally mounted at its lower end on a pivot stud I46 carried by a lateral projection of the bracket I0. Engagement of the cam roll I42 and the cam I30 is urged by linkage now to be described. A ball-ended stud I50 is threaded into the upper end of the lever I44 and has. socket connection with one end of a link I52. The other end of the latter has a socket connection with a ball-ended pin I54 threaded into one of the heel portion gage jaws BI. The tension spring I04 is by this means enabled to maintain efieotiverelation between the cam roll I42 and the cam I30. The pin I54 bears on the inner side of the side gage jaw portion as does a corresponding pin I56 (Figs. 1 and 3) bear on the inner side of the other side gage jaw portion 80 to assure simultaneous sidewise retraction, of both sets of jaws during upward movement of the lower mold I2.

An arm I58 bolted to the plate I28 has a notch I60 (Fig. 2) for receiving and registering a projection I62 of the bracket '10. This arrangement is to assure that proper relationship is maintained between the cooperative cams and cam rolls above mentioned even though several adjustments in their respective positions may be necessitated by diiferent operating conditions.

To assure that a sole, once located on a hor izontal blanket 22 by operation of the sole edge engaging members as will be described, will not thereafter be skewed, creep, or otherwise move from its initially predetermined position relative to the molds when the sole-locating members are retracted to permit application of molding pressure, means are provided which become operative during continued movement of the mold I2 toward the mold IE! to clamp the located sole against the blanket 22. For this purpose the crosshead I6 (Fig. 4) is adapted to receive the upper end of a vertical tubular cas-v ing or sleeve I64, bolts I66 extending through acorns? a flange on the latter and beingthi'cadd in-to the "crosshead; A plunger- 158' is yieldingly with that area of" the horizontal blanket'E-Z in juxtaposition with the balllineofthe' sole to be'molded.

Inv operating the machine a sole 8- islplaced on'the blanket '22 as in -Figs} and 2.

The bolts I2 willhave -been adjustablyflxed with respect to the slots 14' so that the bracket H! correctly supports the sole abutments -40, -42 and engaging rolls '84 and I lengthwise of the soles to be molded. The plate -I28' also will have been so adjusted longitudinally that its cams I30, I32 and corresponding upright portions I34, I36 will respectively control an appropriate range of centralizing locating movements of both the side and heel portion gage jaws 44, 4B and the toe and heel abutments 40, 42 for the soles to be formed. As the mold I2 begins its upward movement, the cam roll I38 cooperates with the stationary cam I32 and the abutments 40, 42 respectively engage the toe and heel edges to locate the sole lengthwise on the blanket. Under the tension of the spring I4II it will be seen that the abutments 40, 42 will move together to position the ball line of a sole lengthwise of the blanket 22 so that the ball line of the sole will be in predetermined relation lengthwise of the molds irrespective of the length of the sole. The cam I39, being higher than the cam I32 on the plate I28, next cooperates with its cam roll I 32 to permit the jaws 44, 46 to be actuated into sole edge engaging positions for locating the sole widthwise. Having moved inwardly as far as the cam I32 and/or the sole edge will permit, the abutments 40, 42 have completed their solelocating function and are then automatically cleared from the path of the mold I2 by its continued upward movement. This is efiected by the cam roll I38 being carried into engagement with the upper wall of the cam I32. Similarly, having moved inwardly as far as the cam I30 and/or the sole edge will permit, the gage jaws 44, 46 complete their widthwise sole-locating function and are automatically cleared from the path of the mold I2, the cam roll I42 engaging the upper portion of the cam I30. It may be noted that regardless of the effectiveness of the cam action in this respect, the upper mold- I0, upon engaging the upwardly moving inclined surfaces of the fingers B2 and lips 98, will move them sidewise and away from the sole. When the sole-locating gages are about to be thus re:- tracted, the molds I0 and I2 commence to cooperate to form the sole as indicated in Fig. 4, the plug I18 clamping the sole in position between the blanket and the mold ID to hold the sole against displacement, the plug being yieldingly depressed against the resistance of the spring IIfl until the top of the plug I18 is even with the under side of the blanket at the ball line as shown. As the molds I0 and I2 come together the blanket 22 yieldingly conforms to their sole-pressing faces, the bell cranks 30, 32

swinging in. opposite idireo-iionsragainst' there sistance ofiered 'byzthe spring 338.

On lowering the. mold :IZJto itsrinitiai position, the blanket 22 is returned 'toitaut horizontal condition by the spring-.38 andthefiretracted gages 4'4, and abutments 41.0; 42' are ready to position the next sole tobeishaped;

Having thus described my invention, what claim as newand desire to. secure'by Iietters -1Eat+- ent of the United Statesis: -11; 1. In a sole-shaping machineapair of m'old's for applying shaping pressure to a "sole-"placed therebetween," one. oi said molds being movable toward "the other to apply pressure to the sole, means for supporting the sole between themolds, sole-locating members, means operative atthe beginning of movement of meme of said molds toward-' the other for operating-said sole locating members toposition said sole "in predetermined relation to said molds, and means operativeduring continued movement of 'said one of said molds toward the other-- for retracting saidsolelocating members. I"

2. In a sole-shaping machinefa pair of molds for applyingshaping-"pressure to a sole placed therebetween, one of said molds being movable toward the other to apply pressure to the sole, means for supporting the sole between the molds, sole-locating members, and means operative at the beginning of movement of said one of said molds toward the other for operating said sole locating members to position said sole lengthwise with respect to said molds so that the ball line of the sole will be in predetermined relation to said molds irrespective of the length of the sole.

3. In a sole-shaping machine, a pair of molds for applying shaping pressure to a sole placed therebetween, one of said molds being movable toward the other to apply pressure to the sole, means for supporting the sole between the molds, sole-locating members, means operative at the beginning of movement of said one of said molds toward the other for operating said sole locating members to position said sole lengthwise with respect to said molds so that the ball line of the sole will be in predetermined relation to said molds irrespective of the length of the sole, and means operative during continued movement of said one of said molds toward the other for retracting said sole-locating members.

4. In a sole-shaping machine, upper and lower molds, one of said molds being movable toward the other to shape a sole placed therebetween, a flexible blanket extending between said molds to support a sole for the shaping operation, solelocating members, means operative at the beginning of movement of said one of said molds toward the other for operating said sole-locating members to position said sole in predetermined relation to said molds, and means operative during continued movement of said one of said molds toward the other for retracting said locating members.

5. In a sole-shaping machine, upper and lower molds, one of said molds being movable toward the other to shape a sole placed therebetween, a flexible blanket extending between said molds to support a sole for the shaping operation, solelocating members. means operative at the beginning of movement of said one of said molds toward the other for operating said sole-locating members to position said sole in predetermined relation to said molds, means operative during continued movement of said one of said molds toward the other for retracting said locating members, and means cooperating with one of said molds for clamping the blanket and the sole together prior to the retractive movement of said sole-locating members.

6. In a sole-shaping machine, upper and lower molds, one of said molds being movable toward the other to shape a sole placed therebetween, a flexible blanket-extending between said molds to support a sole for the shaping operation, solelocating members, and means operative at the beginning of movement of said one of said molds toward the other for operating said sole-locating members to position said sole lengthwise of said blanket so that the ball line of thesole will be in predetermined relation lengthwise of the molds irrespective of the length of the sole.

7. In a sole-shaping machine, upper and lower molds, one of said molds being movable toward the other to shape a sole placed therebetween, a flexible blanket extending between said molds to support a sole for the shaping operation, solelocating members, means operative at the beginning of movement of said one of said molds toward the other for operating said sole-locating members to position said sole lengthwise of 8 said blanket so that theball line of the sole will be in predetermined relation lengthwise of the molds irrespective of the length of the sole, and means operative during continued movement of said one of said molds toward the other for retracting said sole-locating members;

8. In a sole-shaping machine, upper and lower molds, one of said molds being movable toward the other to shape a sole placed therebetween, a flexible blanket extending between said molds to support a sole for the shaping operation, solelocating members, means operative at the beginning of movement of said one of said molds toward the other for operating said sole-locating members to position said sole lengthwise of said blanket so that the ball line of the sole will be in predetermined-relation lengthwise of the molds irrespective of the length of the sole, means operative during continued movement of said one of said molds toward the other and cooperating with one of said molds for clamping the blanket and the sole together, and means for thereafter retracting said sole-locating members.

LEON D. AIDERMAN.

No references cited 

